Nuggets from a Lover of LIFE

Kitchen Sink Ambience

Swamped with medical issues and the realization that Joe and I will be managing some of these concerns “forever”—plus the fallout of Joe’s accident and my two major surgeries, all in less than three month’s time—have decimated my energy level.

Throughout these past weeks there have been times when having to communicate with people (other than family members) has threatened to plow me under.

Although I have consistently delighted in (and been rejuvenated by) telling callers and visitors about how God’s grace has carried me triumphantly through each day of our crisis, some people don’t want to hear that. Instead they want a report of medical details—most of which I’m sick to the gills of having to explain over and over ad nauseum.

Or folks want to tell me that I am “wonderful”, because I don’t just collapse in a heap. What Hogwash! Those of us who were raised in the bygone era of “true grit” simply do what we have to do, and if we were to collapse in a heap it would certainly be no one but God’s business.

There is nothing “wonderful” about me, except for the grace of the indwelling Lord Jesus who sustains me!

Any leftover stamina after praying, caregiving, and trying to rest my own healing body has gone into reading, knitting, painting, collaging, spinning wool on my spinning wheels, real (snail) letter writing, and piano practice. These are the things that feed my soul in all kinds of weather and circumstances. These are God’s tangible gifts for survival!

Creative activities balance out the detritus of communication and the devastating fatigue resulting from conversation!

Meanwhile, despite all predictions of never blogging again, here I am! Why? What cut through the fog of that hackneyed but real syndrome called “writer’s block”? What motivated me to boot up my computer and share in words? Answer: My kitchen sink!

Aproned, dress-wearing June Cleever type that I am, I love my kitchen. I especially love my kitchen sink. We have a dishwasher in our home, which I have never used as a dishwasher. Rather, it is an extended museum nook in our home full of antiques and collectibles. The dishwasher contains vintage kitchen tools and sparkling clean glass jars to be used for diminutive flower arrangements. Sometimes I leave the dishwasher lid down and open so visitors can glance into my mini museum.

I savor washing dishes by hand so much that it is a cherished ritual. This morning, as I lingered in the suds over breakfast dishes, I recalled my growing up years at the kitchen sink. I remembered the precious mother/daughter chats while my mom washed and I dried. We were always leisurely after the evening meal. In fact, I can’t recall that anyone ever hurried much over anything back then. Homemaking was a gracious art and dishwashing symbolized the ambience of a home well cared for.

I inherited my mother’s passion for beautiful dishes. Rather than dry the dishes now, I do the sanitary thing of letting them air dry in the drainer by the sink. The plates, etc., that Joe and I use at meals stay in the drainer non-stop, broadcasting beauty to anyone who happens to see them. I vary my dishes with the time of year—so that most of my patterns are periodically on display.

In a sense, you might say that my kitchen sink has brought me back to life after a time of going quiet and deep, purely for the sake of soul maintenance.

Thanks to the gentle chore of washing dishes, and the memories evoked in the process, I once again desire to share in words—not the results of my latest x-ray, not the vicissitudes of managing chronic illness or the challenges of caregiving, but rather the ambience of everyday life!

15 Responses

So nice to have you back….I’ve missed your “words” ! I do pray that you are recovering nicely from your surgery and that the issues that you have had to contend with from the accident will be taken care of in the Lord’s perfect way. How comforting it is to know that He is in control even when we feel so out of control.

Thanks for sharing your heart. I enjoy kitchen time and pretty dishes, too. With Valentine’s Day next month, now we’re enjoying our heart-shaped teacups when we sip tea (although love is always in season). And I’ve been in the kitchen testing “old faithful” recipes for a tea column on faithfulness. Praise God for His faithfulness!
As far as washing dishes, my faithful husband (43 1/2 years) often does that task for me to free my time for writing. He developed that habit while I wrote my Bible study for grandparents. Now it’s a habit. I’m blessed! But we often clean up the kitchen together–started that as soon as we were married. And instead of whistling while we worked in those early years, I taught him German while we worked. So dishwashing holds sweet memories for me, too.

Margaret, Margaret… I’m 20 minutes away, but miss you. I’ve prayed almost daily. So much God is showing you now. I’ll send one of my hand-made cards soon. You are cared about and never alone. Give Joe a gentle hug. Maybe a poets reunion in spring? I can do it at my house if you’d like.

Margaret, I’m so glad to hear these everyday thoughts and words from my special everyday friend. I always think about those without it and what a taken for granted blessing hot water is as I do dishes. It’s alot like our health until the hot water tank springs a leak! All one can do is grab a mop and make the best of the situation.

Margaret, I just came across your blog. Thanks for brightening up my day. My husband had a golf cart accident a couple of years ago and seriously hurt his shoulder. Had Physical therapy and surgery, but still has residual nerve damage in his hand. What an inspiration and woman of grace you are! Love your dishwasher idea, we never use our’s either, I hand wash and hubby dries!

Margaret, I hope you and your husband are staying well and avoiding the virus bugs that are floating around. Because, we are in the same age bracket, I want to share how this has affected us. I came down with horrible cough in Dec. and got over it, George cam down in Jan. and got over it and then it hit us AGAIN, like a ton of bricks last Thursday, enough to take him to Urgent Care. Wear a mask when you can when going out in public, I can’t stress enough how terrible this is.